Hi all, I found this resource from the Center for Disability Rights and
thought it would be interesting to this group. The introduction is
repeated below:
===
http://cdrnys.org/disability-writing-journalism-guidelines/
There is a common expression in the Disability Community, “Nothing about
us, without us.” Unfortunately, many media outlets are currently telling
stories that are “about us, without us,” if we are included at all.
Doing so is harmful and should not be a widely-accepted practice. It
renders the “voices” (note: not every disabled person communicates
verbally) of actual disabled people silent and sets a precedent that
disabled people cannot communicate or advocate for ourselves. Parents,
caregivers, doctors, and even strangers have more say in telling our
stories than those of us living disabled lives. It is problematic when
non-disabled individuals are given the authority to communicate as the
authentic voice of the Disability Community.
The media must think about and tell stories that reflect their audience
and this certainly includes the Disability Community. This guide is
intended to help journalists and other members of the media learn about
the Disability Community as a demographic and a source, while exploring
how to talk about disability in a way that is not harmful.
--
Cheers,
Justin W. Flory
jflory7(a)gmail.com